A 16-year-old girl was arrested Sunday for the murder of a 79-year-old Apple Valley man, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department announced.

Willie Hunter, 79, was found dead inside his apartment in the 12700 block of Kiowa Road shortly before 4 p.m. and just miles from the church where he was a pastor.

Sheriff’s officials believed the man was the victim of a homicide. After a lengthy investigation, homicide investigators determined that Hunter and the teen knew each other. The nature of their relationship is unclear.

The suspect was at Hunter’s apartment, and an altercation occurred. She stabbed Hunter multiple times before leaving the apartment and taking his car, sheriff’s officials said.

The teen was booked at juvenile hall for murder early Sunday morning.

At United in Christ Baptist Church, Rev. George Horton said he had known Hunter for about four years and that he was loved by everyone at the church.

"He was a man of God," Horton said. "Believed in the word, talked the word, tried to walk the word and live the word."